On 26 September the University of Westminster celebrated the research carried out thanks to a £40,000 donation to the Professor Geoffrey Petts Memorial Fund. Special guest Professor Judith Petts CBE, who provided the generous pledge in 2020 in memory of her late husband, the former Westminster Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Geoffrey Petts, had a chance to meet with the recipients at the University’s Little Titchfield Street site.
Judith Petts CBE talked to several researchers who had already benefitted from the Fund and had conducted fieldwork in their respective areas. During the event, they discussed their studies, how they had spent the fieldtrip funding, the key outcomes of their fieldwork and their ambitions for the future.
Talking about the event Judith Petts CBE said: “Listening to PhD work that has benefitted from being able to travel, interview interesting and key people, examine archives and records, and do research ‘in the field’ (whatever type of field) was inspirational. So much is being gained that will benefit each doctoral student in the future let alone in their thesis. A compelling event and good luck to everyone.”
Jordan Scammell, Head of Development and Fundraising at the University of Westminster, said: “It was such a pleasure to bring together our PhD community with Judith Petts in person, to hear how much of a difference the funding made to their research. All of our researchers were incredibly grateful for the opportunity, and it was wonderful to hear them talk about their respective research and fieldwork with such vigour and passion. Thanks to Judith for supporting the fund so generously and being a champion for experiential learning.”
The Professor Geoffrey Petts Memorial Fund was set up in 2020 to recognise the distinguished contributions Professor Geoffrey Petts made to interdisciplinary River Science research and to support his belief that all students, regardless of their financial situation, should have the opportunity to succeed. The Fund allows PhD researchers to apply for financial support towards equipment and fieldwork costs, making postgraduate research more accessible and elevating the standards of work produced.
Talking about the Fund, Swati Bakshi, researcher and Film PhD student from the Westminster School of Arts, said: “To me, the most distinct aspect of the Fund is that it defines fieldwork in a broader sense of the term. It opens up the opportunity to plan and design the way one imagines the element of fieldwork in their project. It is very useful for any researcher from any discipline. The Fund enabled me to visit relevant archives and conduct in-person conversations overseas that have added immense value to the thesis and enriched my overall research experience.”
Apply for the Professor Geoffrey Petts Memorial Fund for the 2022/23 academic year.
To support the Professor Geoffrey Petts Memorial Fund, visit the donation page.
